If you live in a part of the country that gets cold, you will need to know how to keep outdoor water pipes from freezing.
Let us walk you through your options and the DIY for keeping those outdoor water pipes from freezing.
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How to Keep Outdoor Water Pipes from Freezing
There are 4 things you can do to keep your outdoor water pipes from freezing. Some are easier and some are cheaper than others.
- Drain outside water lines
- Keep the outside tap dripping (Why NOT to do this Outside)
- Move the exposed pipes
- Insulate your outdoor pipes
How to keep Outdoor Water Pipes from Freezing: The Details
Drain Outside Water Lines
Draining outside water lines will remove all the water from the lines. Then there’s no water to freeze and expand inside the pipes causing them to burst. Your pipes could still become brittle over the years, being frozen and defrosting over and over again. So, while I do recommend draining your pipes, you should also think about both insulating the pipe and possibly moving the exposed pipe inside or underground.
Keep the Outside Tap Dripping (with a Warning)
Keeping your outside tap dripping just a bit means the water is running and running water doesn’t freeze easily. Problem with this advice seen on other sites, is that it might work inside your house, but it won’t work outside. It’s colder outside and the water will just start freezing into layers of ice. Eventually it will build up inside the pipe, bursting it or causing a backup.
Move the Exposed Pipes
This is the most expensive option. You would need to have some know-how or hire a plumber to physically move the pipes that are outdoors and exposed to the weather. Those pipes would then be located inside or underground. Notanyone’sfirst choice, but an option worth mentioning.
Insulate Outdoor Water Pipes
Insulating your outdoor water pipes involves wrapping them up to prevent the cold from directly impacting your pipes. You can insulate them with foam insulation or pipe wrap. You can also get foam fitted to elbow and T joints to properly protect the whole pipe from freezing temps. Keep reading for our directions on how to get this done. Insulate your faucets and hose bibs with specially made covers.
How cold does it have to be for outside pipes to freeze?
At what outside temperatures do pipes freeze? According to hopeplumbing.com, the tempwouldhave to be about 20 degrees Fahrenheit for 6 consecutive hours. This is easy to accomplish in some parts of the country, so everyone should insulate their pipes before the cold weather hits.
PRO TIP
Keep your garage doors closed if there are pipes or plumbing like your hot water heater in the garage.
How to Insulate Outdoor Water Pipes: Keep Your Outdoor Water Pipes from FreezingDIY
Insulating your outdoor water pipes is super easy. Here are the basic steps to get it done with foam pipe sleeve insulation (the most popular kind). This is our favorite pipe insulation to prevent freezing. This method below works best for straight pipes.
Basic things you will need to insulate your outdoor pipes to keep them from freezing: Foam pipe sleeve insulation,Duct tape, utility knife.
Always measure your outdoor pipes before you buy foam pipe sleeve insulation so you have enough to do the job.
You will also want to count your T joints and pipe elbows and buy insulation for those. Another option is you can cover them with pipe wrap or cut your foam sleeve insulation to fit.
Don’t forget about your faucets; they also need to be covered to prevent freezing. You can buy faucet protectors or you can cut your foam sleeves and pipe wrap to fit.
PRO TIP
To prevent PVC pipes from freezing, follow all of the steps above and insulate according to the instructions below.
How to Protect Outdoor Water Pipes from Freezing: How do You Winterize Outdoor Pipes?
Here are 5 simple steps to insulate your outdoor pipes from the harsh cold winter weather.
- Put foam pipe sleeve onto the pipe, open it up, slide it onto your pipe
- Cut the sleeve to match the length of your pipe (if your pipe is shorter than your sleeve)
- Put extra foam aside for using on T joints, elbows, and faucets
- Seal up the whole seam of the foam sleeve with duct tape
- Seal up the ends of the foam sleeve with duct tape
If your pipe needs more than one sleeve, make sure each end of the sleeve is flush with the next sleeve and seal them uptogetherwith duct tape.This will keep any cold air from reaching the pipe.
How to Keep above Ground Water Line from Freezing
Insulating outdoor water pipes like ground water lines to keep them from freezing is as simple as using the insulation technique as above. Because the water line may be the main line to your home, you may also want to invest in an electric pipe heater that you secure along the length of your pipe to keep it warm.
Do You Need to Protect Outside Faucets from Freezing?
Yes, you need to protect all of your outdoor plumbing from freezing temps in the winter. First, drain your hose bibs/faucets. Then cover your hose bibs/faucets with insulated covers. Even a towel or a blanket would do if in a pinch.
Option 2 is more expensive: Install Frost free sill cocks(hose bibs). These bad boys can save you if you forget to turn off the water to the outside taps. They prevent the cold air from freezing your pipes because the valve and stem washer are inside your house, instead of outside.
Are there Pipes that Don’t freeze?
Not really, but there are pipes that are a bit more resistant to cold temperatures. All pipes however, will freeze if they aren’t cared for properly and/or if temps drop significantly in a short period of time.
- PEX: cross linked polyurethane piping is flexible plastic and more resistant to cold temps. They also have decent insulation properties built in
- Copper: Higher resistance to heat loss and less likely to freeze
- CPVC: another type of plastic pipe that is less likely to freeze than polyurethane
- Galvanized Steel: Less likely to freeze compared to other types of pipes
Our recommendation is either copper or galvanized steel to avoid exterior pipe freeze.
How Can I Thaw Frozen Pipes?
To thaw frozen pipes, follow these steps:
- Turn on the faucet: Turn on the faucet connected to the frozen pipe and let water run through it. This can help to melt the ice and thaw the pipe.
- Apply heat to the pipe: Use a hair dryer, a hot towel, a heating pad, or a space heater to apply heat to the frozen section of the pipe. Start at the faucet and work your way towards the frozen area.
- Use a heating lamp: A heating lamp can be used to warm the pipes and thaw the ice. Place the lamp near the frozen section of the pipe.
- Call a plumber: If the frozen pipe is difficult to reach or you are unable to thaw it, call a plumber. They will have the necessary tools and experience to safely thaw the pipe.
It’s important to be patient and gentle when thawing frozen pipes. Applying too much heat too quickly can cause the pipes to crack or burst. If you have any concerns or the frozen pipe is not thawing, it’s best to call a plumber for assistance.
Conclusion
How to keep outdoor water pipes from freezing is an easy DIY task that most homeowners must do before the cold winter sets in. It will save you a ton of headache and CASH.
Table Of Contents
- How to Keep Outdoor Water Pipes from Freezing
- How to keep Outdoor Water Pipes from Freezing: The Details
- Drain Outside Water Lines
- Keep the Outside Tap Dripping (with a Warning)
- Move the Exposed Pipes
- Insulate Outdoor Water Pipes
- How cold does it have to be for outside pipes to freeze?
- How to Insulate Outdoor Water Pipes: Keep Your Outdoor Water Pipes from FreezingDIY
- How to Protect Outdoor Water Pipes from Freezing: How do You Winterize Outdoor Pipes?
- How to Keep above Ground Water Line from Freezing
- Do You Need to Protect Outside Faucets from Freezing?
- Are there Pipes that Don't freeze?
- How Can I Thaw Frozen Pipes?
- Conclusion
- FAQs
FAQs
How do I Winterize my plumbing?
We wrote a detailed post about winter plumbing maintenance that every home owner or renter should do.
Related Posts:
- Sink not Draining But Pipes Clear
- How to Turn Off Outside Water for Winter
FAQs
How to Keep Outdoor Water Pipes from Freezing - 5 Simple Steps? ›
Insulate. Insulating your pipes and water tanks is one of the best ways to prevent them from freezing. You can buy inexpensive pipe lagging and tank jackets from most DIY stores and fit them yourself for free. Just make sure you check the pipe and tank measurements first.
How do I stop my outside water pipes from freezing? ›Insulate. Insulating your pipes and water tanks is one of the best ways to prevent them from freezing. You can buy inexpensive pipe lagging and tank jackets from most DIY stores and fit them yourself for free. Just make sure you check the pipe and tank measurements first.
How do you insulate outdoor pipes from freezing? ›Small lengths of exposed pipe can be protected by insulating with pipe-wrap insulation. This flexible insulation comes in several forms. Options include rubber tape-backed flexible foam, bubble wrap style, foam and foil insulation, rubber pipe insulation tape, or foil-backed natural cotton wrap.
At what temperature will outside water pipes freeze? ›If the temperature falls to 32 degrees or lower, your pipes are likely to freeze.
Will pool noodles keep pipes from freezing? ›Insulation is a great way to ensure your pipes don't freeze. There are special pipe insulation products you can buy, or if you're on a tight budget you can use a pool noodle and fashion it around your pipes so they stay protected from the outdoor temperatures.
What is the best insulation for outside pipes? ›EPDM rubber insulation is ideal for outdoor, high temperature and solar pipework use.
How do you insulate exterior plumbing? ›Use caulk or foam to seal any holes where the pipes penetrate walls, floors, ceilings, or framing. If pipes run through exterior wall cavities, insulate the wall cavity just as you would the other cavities if using blown cellulose, fiberglass, or spray foam, which will easily fill in the space behind the pipes.
Does insulating outdoor pipes work? ›Essentially, insulating outdoor pipes boosts their durability, since you're protecting them from the elements. Less elemental damage means more money saved. At the same time, the insulation prevents unnecessary heat loss from hot water pipes, meaning you save more energy.
Can pipes freeze in one night? ›Pipes can freeze in as little as six to eight hours, meaning they can freeze overnight. If the outside temperature is below 32 degrees F and your pipes are unprotected, your chances for a frozen pipe increase.
Which pipes are most likely to freeze? ›Pipes that freeze most frequently are: Pipes that are exposed to severe cold, like outdoor hose bibs, swimming pool supply lines, and water sprinkler lines.
How long can pipes be frozen before they burst? ›
Pipes are most likely to burst when exposed to below-freezing conditions for six hours or more, which can happen throughout winter and early spring. Burst pipes could lead to a disaster, bringing severe water damage to your home.
Is a pool noodle the same as pipe insulation? ›Pool noodles are almost similar to industrial and residential foam insulation that are often used for pipes. The slight difference being that the industrial foam products are denser and have a structural reinforcement outer layer.
Do I need to wrap pool pipes for freeze? ›If you have a pool equipment cover, put it on as this will help keep the equipment and pipes warm. If you do not have a pool equipment cover, wrapping equipment pipes with towels will insulate plumbing lines and help prevent freezing. Even pool noodles can serve as good insulation around pipes.
Can I wrap my pipes with pool noodles? ›The trick is very simple, you can definitely use a pool noodle as insulation or for insulation. The instructions are also quite compact and simplified. You just need a pool noodle, knife, and some filler material or cardboard to wrap around the pipe.
Should I wrap my outside faucets? ›If you want to minimize the damage, the best way is to cover your outdoor kitchen faucets so you can protect them from frosty temperatures because when the season is cold, water can expand and pipes can rupture badly.
Should I leave outdoor faucets open in winter? ›Replace the cap and close the outside faucet. If you don't have a bleeder cap, you can leave your outdoor faucet turned to the 'on' position to prevent a buildup of pressure in the pipes if standing water does freeze.
Should you leave outside faucet open or closed for winter? ›If you have conventional exterior faucets (AKA sillcock, hose bib, exterior spigot, etc.), you should have a shutoff valve inside which should be closed before freezing temperatures hit.
What can I wrap my outside pipes with? ›Wrap pipes with heat tape or thermostatically controlled heat cables. Be sure to follow all manufacturers' installation and operation instructions. Seal leaks that allow cold air inside, near where pipes are located (i.e. around electrical wiring, dryer vents, other pipes), with caulk or insulation.
What should I wrap my outside pipes with? ›Use a “pipe sleeve” or similar insulating material on exposed water pipes. Newspapers can provide some degree of insulation and protection to exposed pipes – even one-fourth inch of newspaper can provide significant protection in areas that usually do not have frequent or prolonged temperatures below freezing.
What is the best pipe wrap to prevent freezing? ›The Right Product for the Job
For many residential plumbing applications a PE pipe insulation product like Tubolit® and Tundra® is the perfect option. Economical and easy to install, PE foam insulation will prevent pipes from freezing and keep hot pipes hot and cold pipes cold.
How do I know if my outdoor faucet is freeze proof? ›
A frost-free faucet has a long stem and turns off the water well inside the wall, keeping the faucet from freezing. A properly installed frost-free faucet will have a slight downward pitch which allows water to drain out when the faucet is shut off.
What makes an outdoor faucet frost-free? ›A frost-free faucet is designed to prevent water from freezing inside the pipe or valve and damaging it. It does this through means of a long valve stem that reaches inside the home where it remains warm, and a self-draining design that prevents water from collecting in the faucet, where it can freeze.
Will bubble wrap insulate outdoor water pipes? ›Pipe wrap foam is great for insulating exposed pipes during the winter. But if you don't have what you need on hand and you see a place you missed, try using bubble wrap. You easily can wrap it around most pipes, and it works pretty well.
Is it worth insulating plastic pipes? ›Plastic pipes supplying hot and cold water or central heating should be insulated against unwanted heat loss and/or freezing. Plastic pipes should be insulated to the same standard as required for copper pipes in the same location.
Will heat tape keep pipes from freezing? ›Heat tape prevents pipes from freezing and bursting, which can save you from expensive repairs and damage to property.
How do you unfreeze pipes quickly? ›- Turn on the faucet. Keep it running. ...
- Apply heat to the frozen area. Slowly apply heat using a hair dryer. ...
- Continue to apply heat. Don't stop heating until full water pressure is restored. ...
- Check all faucets and prevent pipes from freezing in the future.
Remember, the higher the thermostat, the more fuel you use. If you have central heating and you are away in cold weather, leave the heating on continuously with the thermostat set to low to stop your pipes freezing.
What pipes won't burst when frozen? ›PEX, or cross-linked polyethylene, has a chemical structure that gives it flexibility to withstand pressure increases and perform better in the winter. If water freezes in the pipe, for example, PEX will expand to accommodate the change. Then it will contract back to original dimensions once thawed.
Which pipe freezes first hot or cold? ›In short, hot water does freeze sooner than cold water under a wide range of circumstances. It is not impossible, and has been seen to occur in a number of experiments. But despite claims often made by one source or another, there is no well-agreed explanation for how this phenomenon occurs.
What do plumbers use to freeze pipes? ›Repair pipe without draining lines. Freeze liquids in steel, copper, cast iron, aluminum, or plastic. Uses Carbon Dioxide (CO2) to freeze liquids. Fast, compact freeze units.
At what temperature do pipes start to burst? ›
Even so, outside temperatures generally have to fall to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit or below before your pipes will freeze or burst due to freezing.
How cold does it have to be for pipes to burst in house? ›So, the question is: just how cold does it have to be for pipes to burst? Your pipes are at risk of freezing any time temperatures drop below 32°F. However, it's much more common for pipes to freeze when temperatures dip below 20°F.
Do pipes eventually unfreeze? ›Your pipes will eventually begin to thaw on their own once the temperatures rise above freezing. As they do so, you may begin to hear your pipes making gurgling, clanging, or banging sounds as the ice begins to move. The hot water heater may do the same.
Is rubber better than foam pipe insulation? ›A safe conclusion when comparing rubber versus foam plastic pipe insulation is that rubber is the better choice for commercial and industrial applications due to its lower thermal conductivity, higher continuous operating temperature, and more predictable fire behavior.
What is heat wrap for pipes? ›The WRAP-ON Pipe Heating Cable prevents frozen water pipes to -50ºF. Simply wrap on, insulate and plug in. Engineered for use on metal and rigid plastic pipes. A built-in thermostat turns the cable on at 38ºF. Proven low-wattage design uses up to 65 percent less energy at 2 watts per foot vs.
Do you wrap hot or cold water pipes? ›Insulating your hot water pipes reduces heat loss and can raise water temperature 2°F–4°F hotter than uninsulated pipes can deliver, allowing you to lower your water temperature setting. You also won't have to wait as long for hot water when you turn on a faucet or showerhead, which helps conserve water.
At what temperature does pool water freeze? ›What temperature does a pool freeze? A chlorinated swimming pool freezes at around 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the same temperature as non-chlorinated water.
What kind of antifreeze do I need to close my pool? ›Propylene glycol, which is usually hot pink, is the most common type of pool antifreeze.
Can you wrap outside pipes with towels? ›Outside. Protect faucets, outdoor pipes, and pipes in unheated areas with pipe insulation. In a pinch, wrapping them with rags, newspapers, trash bags, plastic foam or even bubble wrap can add needed protection. Cover any vents around your home's foundation.
Can I wrap my pipes with towels? ›Wrap pipes.
If your pipes are already on their merry way towards freezing, wrapping them with warm towels might do the trick. You can cover them with the towels first and then pour boiling water on top, or use already-wet towels — if your hands can stand the heat (use gloves for this).
Will pool noodles keep water hose from freezing? ›
Protect the pipes from freezing weather
Pool noodles are a great choice if you have a pool and want to get more use from the noodles when swimming season is over. To use the pool noodles or pipe foam, simply cut the sides to fit over the pipe and then use duct tape to secure them in place where they won't slip off.
- Unscrew any hoses or connections from your outdoor faucet.
- Wrap the faucet with several layers of rags or t-shirts, making it as snug as possible.
- Cover the fabric insulation with one or two plastic bags.
- Secure the bags with the tape by wrapping them several times around.
Put a insulated cover over the faucet
You can buy insulating faucet covers which can ensure that no water remaining inside freezes. Combine this with insulated tubing for pipework and you are providing good protection to protect an outside faucet from freezing in winter.
Faucet covers work by trapping heat that naturally radiates through the interior pipes to the outdoor spigot. The insulated cover prevents this radiated heat from escaping and therefore prevents water in the faucet from freezing, expanding, and rupturing the spigot.
What is the best thing to cover outside faucets? ›- Unscrew any hoses or connections from your outdoor faucet.
- Wrap the faucet with several layers of rags or t-shirts, making it as snug as possible.
- Cover the fabric insulation with one or two plastic bags.
Did you know that one of the most vulnerable locations for a freezing pipe is an outdoor faucet? Without a cover over an outdoor faucet, cold air can find easy access into your plumbing system, especially if you don't drain it and close the valve before winter.
Should outside faucets be left open or closed in winter? ›If you have conventional exterior faucets (AKA sillcock, hose bib, exterior spigot, etc.), you should have a shutoff valve inside which should be closed before freezing temperatures hit.
How long does it have to freeze before pipes burst? ›Pipes are most likely to burst when exposed to below-freezing conditions for six hours or more, which can happen throughout winter and early spring. Burst pipes could lead to a disaster, bringing severe water damage to your home.